Americans under the age of 65 should be screened for an anxiety disorder, even if they don’t have symptoms. This is a recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Medicine Group based on a reassessment of numerous studies on the benefits and risks of this practice. Given reports of deteriorating mental health due to social isolation and stress caused by the pandemic, the recommendation, psychologist and team member Dr Lori Pbert points out, was deemed necessary. The researchers concluded that the benefits of early diagnosis of anxiety disorder outweigh the risks that an incorrect assessment can carry.

Who is the most vulnerable?

Anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental health problems faced by Americans. More than 40% of women and one in four men suffer from it. Certain social groups are particularly vulnerable, such as African Americans, people living in poverty, those who have lost a partner, and those suffering from other mental illnesses. Its manifestations are numerous and include panic attacks, phobias and severe mental stress. Every tenth pregnant and lactating woman also suffers from severe anxiety.

The screening recommended by American experts can be done in a variety of ways, such as asking about the presence of feelings, such as fear and anxiety, that may interfere with daily activities. Such tests can easily be done at primary health care centres. However, the Health Prevention Task Force did not specify when citizens should have them.

As Dr. Pbert noted, “The most important thing is to know that a disorder cannot be diagnosed with a single test. The next stage is the communication of a citizen with a specialist in the field of mental health.” Finally, the team said there is no strong evidence for the importance of such a test for people over 65, nor for routine testing to diagnose mood disorders such as depression in adults and children. Preventive medicine group recommendations often affect insurance coverage for tests.